PTA
The Saugatuck Scoop - 3/14/25
This week, we shine our Saugie Spotlight on…One Book, Two Schools! On Wednesday, March 19th, we will be embarking on our (drum roll please!) 10th annual, “One Book” experience! This initiative is made possible by the SES PTA who purchases our books! Students have been given clues on Saugatuck Seal News to get them excited about next week’s reveal! Buddy classes will read the first 2 chapters together on the 19th after viewing a special video message from the author of the book. The youngest child in each family will receive a copy of the book, along with a printed schedule for reading the rest at home. The schedule is designed to be manageable for families, Monday-Thursday, with no additional reading over the weekends. We would love for every family to participate as we celebrate reading!
Through this shared reading experience, we aim to build a community of readers and have fun doing it. Once OBTS is completed, we invite Saugatuck community members to donate their OBTS book to the New Beginnings Family Academy in Bridgeport to share this reading experience with others.
Saugie’s Checklist
- TODAY is PJ Day and 1pm Dismissal!
- Sign up for a Spring kindergarten recess duty spot here!
- Grab some new logo wear and Saugie/Tuck stuffies for a limited time here!
- Order your yearbook here! Password: sesyearbook25
- March’s lunch menu is here
- Follow the SES PTA on Instagram @thesaugiescene for reminders, updates, and links
Next Week
| Tuesday, March 18, 6:30-7:30 pm | Math Night (K-2) - SES cafeteria |
| Tuesday, March 18, 10 am |
SpED Sip n’ Chat, Westport Library, Room 216 |
| Friday, March 21 | Bus Driver Appreciation Day |
| Friday, March 21 | Early Dismissal 11:30 am |
| Friday, March 21, 1:00 pm | SES and LLS Playdate - SES playground |
Save the Date
| Saturday, March 29, 1-3 pm | SpED Community Fun Day - Coleytown Elementary |
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Thursday, April 3 |
Bingo Night - SES Auditorium |
| April 14 - 18 | No School - April Break |
| Monday, April 21 | Late Arrival/Professional Development 11:30 am start |
Latest News and Events
Math Night Grades K-2 - Tuesday, March 18, 6:30-7:30 PM
Students in Grades K-2 are invited to a family Math Night on March 18, 6:30-7:30 PM, in the SES Cafeteria. Come have fun playing math games as a family. Please note that this is not a drop-off event.
Make a Card for Your Bus Driver - March 21 is Driver Appreciation Day at SES
Friday, March 21st is our designated day for Bus Driver Appreciation at SES! Let's show our appreciation to the amazing bus drivers who safely transport our students each day. To celebrate, we invite all students to create heartfelt cards and signs of thanks for our bus drivers. All cards and / or signs should be given to drivers on the morning of March 21st. Thank you for helping us show our gratitude to these hardworking individuals! (Please note that each elementary school has a different month for this celebration, and while National Bus Driver Appreciation Day is in April, our school's special month is March.)
SES and LLS Playdate - Friday, March 21, 1:00PM
Please join us in welcoming the new LLS families to the SES community with a playdate at 1:00 PM on 3/21 at SES playground. Students will get the opportunity to meet other children joining their grade in the Fall and help ease the transition for our new LLS friends. As a reminder, students are dismissed at 11:30 for early release on the 21st. Snacks and water will be available and keep an eye out for a visit from Saugie! We look forward to seeing you there!
Alice in Wonderland at BMS - March 21st-23rd
Watch our beloved SES alums fall down the rabbit hole in Bedford Acting Group's 6th grade production of Disney's Alice in Wonderland, Jr.! Join your SES friends on Saturday, March 22 at 7pm ("SES Night!") to catch our very own Ms. Bloom in a special cameo appearance! Click here to buy your tickets.
GPTA Meeting Recap: Growth Mindset, SEL, and Human Skills in Math & Science Curriculum
Thank you to everyone who attended the GPTA meeting last Thursday. Our vote to approve the nominating committee was unanimous, and we will publish the meeting notes in the Scoop soon. Math Coach Lisa Wolff and Science Coach Kate Romano gave insightful presentations on how SES integrates a growth mindset, SEL, and Human Skills into the Math and Science curriculum. You can view the slide presentation here if you missed it or want to revisit the discussion. Please find the full minutes from the meeting here.
Bingo Night / Fill Your Baskets - Thursday, April 3, Doors open at 5:30pm
Bingo Night/Fill Your Baskets is coming up on Thursday, April 3rd! This highly anticipated event is the PTA's biggest fundraiser of the year and we need your help to make it a success! You should have heard from your room parents about donating an item to your child's class basket, which will tie into their chosen theme. Please coordinate with your room parents on the best way to donate your items by March 19!
On March 26, students will have the chance to preview all the class baskets and drop their free Luck of the Draw ticket into the basket they want to try to win. The basket drawings will take place at Bingo Night. You’ll also be able to purchase more Luck of the Draw tickets to increase your chances to win!
Bingo Night will not only feature these exciting basket drawings, but we'll also be playing Bingo for fun prizes! It’s a night full of family fun, and we need volunteers to make it happen. Sign up here!
SES Arts Showcase – Save the Date!
This year, our student art show is getting a new look! Join us on May 1st for the first annual SES Arts Showcase, where you can experience student artwork, ArtSmart projects, and live music performances. It’s a great chance to celebrate our students’ creativity with family and friends. Stay tuned for more details, and in the meantime, visit Ms. Lasto’s website here for more info.
2024-25 SES K-5 Yearbooks are now on sale!
You can now order your K-5 Yearbooks here (password: sesyearbook25)! Online ordering will continue through Friday, April 4th. As a reminder, there will only be one yearbook for the entire school this year, so don’t miss out on your chance to order the new and improved hardcover yearbook. The cost for the yearbook is $35.Questions? Email Lori Baldy.
Please note that no family will be denied participation due to the inability to pay. Contact Principal Messler for confidential financial support.
DEIB News
March is Women’s History Month! Women Who Transformed Learning: Throughout history, women have played a pivotal role in shaping education, breaking barriers to ensure knowledge reaches future generations. Pioneers like Mary McLeod Bethune, who founded a school for Black girls that later became Bethune-Cookman University, and Maria Montessori, whose innovative teaching methods transformed early childhood education, have left lasting legacies. Malala Yousafzai, a modern advocate for girls' education, continues to inspire the world with her fight for learning opportunities. These trailblazers remind us that education is a powerful tool for change, and their contributions continue to inspire students and educators alike.
Special Education News
SpED Sip n’ Chat - Tuesday, March 18, 10 am. Families of 504 and IEP students are invited to join the Westport SpED PTA's Sip n' Chat on March 18 at 10 am in Room 216 of the Westport Public Library. Next month’s topic is navigating vacations with your child and planning and understanding Disability Access Pass (DAS). Bring your questions, concerns, and insights—no RSVP needed! Check out the flyer for an overview of this year’s topics. Questions? Reach out to Megan Bouchard.
Annual Community Fun Day - Saturday, March 29, 1-3 pm. SpED PTA presents its annual Community Fun Day, a community celebration event for special education students and their families. Join us for sports activities, cookie decorating, nail art, touch a fire engine, ice cream, zen den, tattoos/stickers, animals, books, balloon animals, crafts, snacks, and much more! The event will occur at Coleytown Elementary School on Saturday, March 29th, from 1-3 pm. Please RSVP using the QR code in this flyer. We look forward to seeing you!
Volunteer Opportunities
Spring Kindergarten Recess Duty Spots Are Now Open!
All interested parents and guardians of kindergarteners have an opportunity to sign up for two recess duty slots between April and the end of the year. Click here for more information and to sign up. Questions? Reach out to Christine Smith.
Help Keep Our School Connected: Join the PTA Board as VP of Communications!
The PTA is seeking a Vice President of Communications to join our board! This shared role manages the weekly newsletter, Instagram, PTA website, Google calendar, and emails—alternating responsibilities with a co-VP every other week. It’s a two-year commitment with built-in training, no committee oversight, and no event planning—just behind-the-scenes communications. You'll also attend monthly board meetings to stay connected. Interested? Fill out our volunteer interest form here!
Check Out the Parent Volunteer Opportunities for the 25-26 School Year
Whether you're a seasoned volunteer or new to the PTA, click here to explore opportunities and express your interest! A nominating committee member will reach out to discuss how your skills can support our school. While most roles require a two-year commitment, expressing interest is the first step toward making a meaningful impact.
Support The PTA
Get Your NEW Logowear designs and Beloved Stuffies...For a Limited Time!
Our online store is open again for a limited time. Inventory includes our new designs beloved by students and staff alike. And at long last, our Saugie and Tuck stuffies have been restocked! You can purchase Logowear online through the PTA website. For any additional questions, please reach out to Heidi Saltzman.
Books As Gifts - Donate a New Book to Our Amazing SES Library
The Books As Gifts program offers friends and families of SES students an opportunity to support our library each year by dedicating a unique new library book to their child or someone special. You can celebrate birthdays, accomplishments, holidays, and passions, be a teacher or staff member, or donate a book just because! To purchase a book from the SES Library's Amazon Wishlist and have a bookplate inscribed with your dedication, please complete this form. Within the form, you can access the Amazon Wishlist to purchase the book AND provide us with the information for the bookplate inscription. Once the book arrives at SES, your child will be the first to check it out.
See the flyer for more information. Questions? Email Leah Crane, Kerri Joller, or Stefanie Kelly.
Updates and Reminders
Kindergarten Registration Open for 2025-2026
If your child will be five years old on or before September 1, 2025, we encourage you to register as soon as possible. Early registration helps the district plan ahead and ensures a smooth start for your child. Registration information is available on the district website here. In May, there will be an orientation session at your child’s elementary school for both you and your child. Invitations for both events will be sent to registered families.
Contact the Superintendent’s office at (203) 341-1026 for assistance.
Drop Off and Pick up Reminder
All families driving north on Riverside Avenue and planning to drop off or pick up students in the car line should NOT attempt to turn left into the SES parking lot. Doing so cuts off others waiting patiently in the car line and prevents School Resource Officer Hall from exiting cars from the parking lot onto Riverside Avenue. Rather than turning left, proceed past the entrance and join the back of the car line. We appreciate your support!
Check Out the New School Lunch and Snack FAQs
If you ever wonder how to check your child’s lunch balance, what snacks are available, or just have general questions about the district dining services, these resources should help. The FAQ page covers payments, negative balances, and other details, while this guide lists snack/a la carte item prices. If you still have questions, please contact Bob Nielsen, Director of Dining Services.
Helpful Resources
Click here for helpful resources such as previous communications from the SES administration, how-to’s, and district updates.
Scoop of Thanks
…the parents/caregivers who have volunteered for 2025-26 so far! Join this illustrious group; there is still plenty of time to express your interest by filling out our volunteer interest form!
Community Corner
Board of Education (BOE) Meetings
Residents are always welcome to attend the BOE meetings in person every other Thursday in the Staples High School Cafeteria (calendar here). You are also able to watch them live from home on the BOE webpage here. Every meeting is archived on that same page for viewing at any time.
Be “In The Know” with the Digital Community Bulletin Board
The district's Digital Community Bulletin Board is a regularly updated resource you didn’t know you needed! Make a habit of checking the bulletin board and you’ll be in the know about upcoming sports clinics, school drama club performances, and other events happening around town. If you are interested in submitting something for the bulletin board, please contact the PTA Co-Presidents Allison O'Dell and Indy Pereira (ses_pta@westportps.org).
Redistricting Resource Map Now Available
The district has shared a new redistricting maps resource, which can be found on the district’s Redistricting Resources page. This will help families better understand the proposed elementary attendance zone changes and whether or not they are impacted.
Contact The Scoop:
To include your announcement or event in The Scoop, please submit this form at least two weeks before the event or announcement date. Last minute announcements must be submitted by Tuesday at 5:00pm to be considered for inclusion in that week's edition, released on Friday. Flyers or attachments need to be approved by Principal Beth Messler (emessler@westportps.org) and PTA Co-Presidents Allison O'Dell and Indy Pereira (ses_pta@westportps.org). Contact the Scoop (saugatuck.scoop@gmail.com) with any questions or just to say hello.
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